Comparing Van Halen pressings! MoFi One Step Vs 1st US, 1st NL & Grundman/Bellman Remaster
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- In 1978 Van Halen releases one of the most important albums in the world of Hard-Rock / Heavy Metal. Their selftitled debut changed the way guitars could sound. But, what is the best pressing of this album? In this video I compare a;
2023 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab One Step
45 RPM
2022 Bernie Grundman / Chris Bellman Remaster
1978 Dutch pressing
1978 US Pressing
What is the best sounding version?
#vanhalen #mofi #mfsl #45rpm #33rpm #onestep #vinyl #vinylcommunity #lp #audiophile #review #heavymetal #hardrock
MoFi did do a very good job, better than I expected. I did do an A/B with the One-Step against my 1978 Test pressing "LW1 F.E. / LW1" in the deadwax and my full 1978 LP Promo with "LW1 F.E. / LW2" in the deadwax. These two have beat out 80+ variants that I own of this LP. The One-Step did have the low end, mid and the clarity of my Test pressing & Promo, but the highs on the One-Step are very bright (not very natural sounding). It really stands out when the volume is cranked up. MoFi is very good but not great, a bit bright on my system. If it's bright on my system which is an all-tube system, it might be very bright on a solid state system. That's my take.
SYSTEM: McIntosh MC2102 tube amp. McIntosh C2300 tube pre-amp, McIntosh MT5 turntable, Clearaudio Concerto V2 MC cart, Sonos Faber Amati G5 speakers.
Thanks for this info! Sounds like I really want to find a Promo pressing!
Thanks for the review! I have an old US copy that I’ve owned since 1980, the Grundman/Bellman pressing, and now the One Step. The Mofi has definitely made an impression on me. I must admit though, I find very little fault in the G/B pressing, especially given the price. So now I have the Mofi for a weighty sound, the G/B for a clean presentation without flipping the record as frequently, and an old pressing for all that snap, crackle, pop goodness!
Sometimes one pressing for a good album just isn’t enough!
I have three copies of the U.S. original. They sound spectacular to my ears. It’s hard to imagine it getting any better. If the Mofi is better it must be amazing. Is it more detail?
I’ve heard mixed reviews about the Bellman reissue.
More detail and wider stereo image. The 45 RPM really adds something here. Nevertheless; the OG is spectacular, full and warm with a very natural sound. I love it.
Thanks for your review.. though you didn't say it specifically, did the One Step version make you jump and play the air guitar?
It definitely did made me jump up on the coach and make me play airguitar non-stop until the end of side 2 (after that it was time to get a beer)
@@top5records796 thanks.. true test of a vinyl pressings value to oneself.
Nice review but just for fun, could you remind me/us what equipment you are currently using? Thanks in advance.
I have a Thorens TD160 with an ortofon blue for stereo and ortofon white for mono. With a Marantz 2216 receiver and Dynaudio BM6a Mk I speakers.
@@top5records796 Cool thanks. If you had to describe the general sonic signature of your system would you say it's neutral or does it perhaps err towards the soft & warm side?
I ponder if this is the case since this VH I One-Step has been reported by others to be on the sterile, thin, bright side (like most MOFI One-Steps as of late to be honest). And while I don't personally own my own copy to conduct my own tests yet, I have heard many HQ samples of it on TH-cam and when compared to my own videos made with the "vacuum tube mastered" edition from long extinct audiophile label DCC, the MOFI One-Step falls behind IMHO. It comes through as thin and sterile. The DCC is warm, more organic, and it's got a thickness to the instruments that sorely lacks on the One-Step.
Shoot! Even the video I made with an original audio cassette from 1978 playing on my Nakamichi 680ZX cassette deck sounds more organic than my friend's version even with a smidgen of tape hiss notwithstanding.
Actually, here. *You listen* and tell me if you agree:
Here's the MOFI One-Step VH I on Tony Tschida's awesome channel:
th-cam.com/video/C23Upz2yWBw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7WwyyEQq058kuqB5
Here is my version of the same song on my Nakamichi cassette deck:
th-cam.com/video/VdLOtkS5aOA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=CW_9H4ELUKuW943E
And for fun, here is the difference between the MOFI One-Step and the DCC on the same song "Running With The Devil"
MOFI One-STep on Tony's channel:
th-cam.com/video/UtmjCarcktc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=zdQ2ZXlTixnFv9dy
DCC on my channel:
th-cam.com/video/AtIWmXQEqBg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gqGzfdyV-qMGqxW5
If you would be so kind, I would love your feedback.
Thanks in advance,
Oz
President
Let There Be Sound, L.L.C.
@@LetThereBeSound1thanks for your response! I find it very interesting!
The speakers I use are the same speakers used in professional sound studios for editing and mixing films. They are meant to give a neutral, uncolored and detailed sound.
The Marantz 2216 I have, I specifically bought because it is more neutral than other ‘70s Marantz receivers and since the internal system is shorter and has less features it colors the sound less. Having said that; overall these Marantzes have detail but also warmth. So while I have focussed on a neutral sound there absolutely is a element in the system that gives it warmth and a fuller sound.
I am really happy with the video’s you showed yet I find it very tough to say much about them. Yes; I hear the same thing you do and I would draw the same conclusion. But I find youtube video’s a tough source to base a soundquality conclusion on. Not only am I listening to different systems and rooms, I am also listening to compression of TH-cam and whatever was used to record the video and the quality of my TH-cam playback. But based on the video’s I would draw the same conclusion.
Also; I agree most MoFi One Steps are sterile. I have some MoFi comparisons on my channel and I have not been very often positive about their work the last couple of years. There are exceptions though; for me the Van Halen One Step is one of them. Although indeed slightly more sterile than an OG I think it is a lot warmer than the Bellman/Grundman mastering. And compared to the OG it just really delivers on the stereo image and detail.
@@top5records796 Fair enough response. Thank you!
Incidentally, while the DCC (Steve Hoffman with "vacuum tube mastering") is probably THE ONE - it is awfully pricey.
A much saner option is the Rhino all-analog reissue from 2009 because it uses the same metal parts that were used for the DCC from 1998. FYI
Thanks! That is valueable information!
I agree the MoFi is the best version.
Good to hear that! I find it really incredible.
The dog said was time to walk the park, the quality of this video is poor
You’re a troll. This video, like all of his videos, are informative and interesting.
@Donjasoni, thank you for stepping up for me! That is very kind and it warms my heart. Luisfernandez however means well and is also positively interested in this channel. He is right about the image quality of the video. I did use too little light for this video (the sun was going down and I’m not to keen on using studio lights) which results in poor quality. I’m afraid the dog analysis is wrong; Lela and I just had a long run in the park (we exercise together) and sometimes she just wants to continu and play (hence the bear).
But thank you! Both of you for caring for the channel! It is appreciated!
@@top5records796 no worries my friend. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻keep doing what you do.
@@Donjasoni not a troll, but too there are lots of trolls every where